Christmas is just around the corner - and in past times soccer and rugby league supporters would have been looking forward to watching a match on Christmas Day. It was a tradition that brought record crowds and festive-style football. But how traditional was it - and why did it die out?

The new episode of ‘Rugby Reloaded’ unwraps the history of Christmas Day football and asks if it’s a tradition that could be re-invented for the 21st Century?

You can find Ian Nannestad’s fascinating article on Christmas Day soccer on his excellent Soccer History website, and Martin Johnes’ Christmas and the British is available here.

If you’d like to find out about football and the 1914 Christmas Day truce during World War One, check out Rugby Reloaded episode 41, Football and the 1914 Christmas Truce.

Artie Beetson breaks his leg playing for Hull KR in the 1968 Christmas Day derby. Johnny Moore and Colin Hutton look on.